Cover-fastening means.



No. 894,913. vPN'ITBBTTEJ) AUG. 4, 1908.

' G. P. SMITH.

COVER PASTENING MEANS..

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, 190s.

GILMAN P. SMITH, or BANGOR, MAINE.

COVER-FASTENING- MEANS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GILMAN P. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Bangor, in the county of Penobscot and State of Maine, have invented certain newl and useful Improvements in Cover-Fasten ing Means, of which the following is a speci-V fication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.- a

The invention relates to improvements in packing boxes, cases, crates or the like and more especially to improved lid or cover fastening means.

The invention aims to provide improved lid or cover fastening means of a simple, chealp and durable nature by which the cover can and which can be conveniently and quickly olperated to fasten the lid thereon or remove t e same therefrom.

The lid fastening means includes primarily movable bails for infolding the sides and cover of the box and a latch to lock the bails when arranged in a position to hold the cover in lace.

mportant features of the invention reside in the s ecial arrangement of the latch and a special ail construction, whereby the latch while arranged convenient for operation is entirely out of the way and. does not project to the exterior of the box to mar the a pearance thereof or offer an objectionab e .obstruction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the accompanying detailed description. Y

A convenient embodiment of the invention comprises the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated'in .the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims hereto'appended In the drawings; Figure 1 isa perspective view of a box constructed and equipped with lid fastening means in accordance with my invention, the lid being fastened on the box.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the lid removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section.

The drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, illustrate a box cornprising a body portion having sides 1 and ends 2, and a cover 3, the sides 1 being extended a slight distance above the ends so that the cover, which is adapted to lie between the sides upon the ends when 'in position to close `the box, will extend substan- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application le'd March `12, 1908. Serial No. 420,604.

e'securely fastened in place on thebox.V

4 rectangu Patented Aug. 4, 1908.

tially. flush with the upper surface of the sides.

The means for fastening the cover in place on the box includes bails a, b, which are constructed and adapted to clamp the cover to -the box at opposite ends thereof. These bails a, Y), which are substantially U-shape in form and preferably constructed of stra ymetal, are pivotally connected at their en s to the box so that they can be arranged to infold and snugly fit around the sides and over the cover of the box, the bails passing partially down the sides 'of the box to their pivots 4 and the sides of the box being slightly reduced or beveled to permit the ready passage of the upper portions of the bails thereover.

As hereinbefore suggested I employ a means to lock the bails in position when arranged to hold the cover in place and with this idea in view I provide a latch comprising a springarm 5 secured at one end to the cover to normally extend along the under side of the same to vone end thereof, said arm carry- -ing at its free end a locking pin 6 conveniently supplied by bending the arm at substantially ri ht angles.

One end o the cover is slotted at 7 and the bail a is rovided with a rigid supplemental far loop portion to enter the slots 7 and embrace that portion of the cover intermediate the slots 7 or the tongue 8 thus formed, the adjacent end ofthe body of theA box being cut away 'at 9 so as not to interfere with the bail assuming the position intended. The loop portion is arranged to underlie the top portion of the bail and as shown in the lpresent instance is provided by substantially a U-shaped strap of metal 10 having at its ends flanges 11, which are secured to the bail at the under side thereof.

The spring arm 5, which normally lies fiat against the under side of the cover with its pin resting in a slot 12 formed therein, is adapted to be depressed away from the cover and permitted to return to move its locking pin vertically to `cause the same to engage with or disengagethe same from the a erture 13 of the loop 10 to lock or release t e bail, one end of the body of the box being provided with a groove 14 in which the free end of the spring arm works, the walls of said groove serving to guide the arm in its vertical movement and maintain the same in proper alinement. The locking pin of the latch when in engagement with the bail is adapted to pass through the aperture 13 of the loop and rest within the slot 12 beneath the main bail portion. The cover of the box is provided with a finger opening 15 extending over the spring arm and of a size to permit the ready operation of the latch from the exterior of the box.

16 designates a plate secured at one edge to the under side of the cover. This plate provides a broad bearing surface to be engaged in operating the latch and also serves as a cover for the opening 15, the spring arm bearing against the under side of the plate and normally holding the same fiat against the under side of the cover in a position to close the opening. The plate 16 carries on its upper surface a card of paper or other suitab e material to receive memorandum relating to the box or the contents thereof, the same being visible through the opening.

By the arrangement set forth it is to be noted, that the latch while arranged convenient for operation is entirely out of the way and does not present any obstruction at the exterior of the box, so that the boxes in shipment can with advantage be packed upon each other without the liability of injuring the latch or accidentally releasing the same.

The bail l) is rigidly secured to the cover and aords a hinge connection between the cover and body whereby the cover may be swung back from the body as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

As will be understood the articular arrangement and construction illustrated in the drawings may be changed or modified, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the nature or principal idea of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with the body and cover of a box, said cover having a finger opening extending therethrough, of means for fastening the cover on the box including a bail movably connected to one of said parts to be arranged to hold the cover on the box,-

and a vertically movable latch member to lock the bail, said latch member being connected to the cover to extend across and be operated from the finger opening of the cover.

2. The combination with the body and cover of a box, of means for fastening the cover in place on the body, said means including a bail movably connected to one of said parts to be arranged to infold the cover and sides of the box and provided with an aperture, and a latch to lock the bail carried by the cover and constructed and arranged to engage the aperture of the bail.

3. The combination with the body and cover of a box, of means for fastening the cover in place on ,the body, said means including a bail movably connected to one of said parts to be arranged to infold the cover and sides of the box and provided with an aperture, and a latch to lock the bail, the

latch comprising a spring arm carried by the cover and provided with a pin to engage the aperture of the bail.

4. The combination of the body and cover ofa box, said cover being provided with a slot, means for fastening the cover in place on the body, said means including a bail movably connected to one of said parts to be arranged to clamp the cover to the body and. provided with an a erture and a latch to lock the bail, said latch eing provided with a pin to engage the aperture of the bail and lie within the slot of the cover.

5. The combination of a body and cover of a box, said cover being provided with a slot, and means for fastening the cover in place on the body, said means including a bail movably connected to one of said )arts to be arranged to clam the cover to t ie body and a latch to lock tie bail said latch comprising a spring arm connected at one end to the cover and having its free end provided with bail engaging means, the spring arm being arranged so that the same throughout its length normally lies close to the cover.

6. The combination with the body and cover of a box, of means for fastening the cover to the body including a bail movably connected to the body to be arranged to infold the cover and sides of the box and provided with a supplemental portion to lie at the under side of the cover, and a latch to lock the bail carried by the cover at the under side thereof and provided with means to engage the supplemental portion of the bail.

7. The combination with the body and cover of a box, of means for fastening the cover to the body including a bail movably connected to the body to be arranged to infold the cover and sides of the box and provided with a supplemental portion to lie at the under side of the cover, said portion being provided with an a erture, and a latch to lock the bail carried y the cover on thc under side thereof and provided with a pin to engage the aperture of the supplemental portion of the bail.

8. The combination with the body and cover of a box, of means for fastening the cover to the body including a bail movably connected to the body to be arranged to infold the cover and sides of the box and provided with a supplemental loop portion to embrace the cover of the box.

9. The combination with the body and cover of a box, said cover having a finger opening, of means for fastenin the cover on the box including a bail mova ly connected to one of said parts to be arranged to hold the cover on the box, and a vertically movable latch member to lock the bail, said latch member being connected to the cover to extend across the opening of the cover and a plate connected to the cover for movement relative thereto, said plate being arranged to extend over the opening of the coverand to overlie the latch member. y

10. The combination with the body and cover of a box, of means for fasteningl the cover to the body including a bail movably connected to the body to be arranged to infold the cover and sides of the box and provided with a supplementalloop portion to embrace the cover of a box, and a latch to lock the bail constructed and arranged to en` gage the supplemental loop portion.

11. The combination With the body and cover of a box, said cover being rovided With a inger o ening, of means for astening the cover on t e box including a bail movably connected to one of said arts to be arran ed to hold the cover on t e box, and a latc to'lock the bail, said latch being arranged at the under side of the cover to extend beneath the linger openin 12. The combination With t e body and cover of a box, said cover being provided With a finger a erture, of means for fastening the cover on tiie body including a bail movably connected to one of said parts to be arranfred to hold the cover on the body, and a latc to lock the bail said latch being arranged at the under side of the cover adjacent the a erture of the cover and a press plate for tlib latch connected at one edge to the under side of the cover and carrying memorandum visible through the opening of the cover.

13. The combination With the body and cover of a box, said cover being provided with an aperture, of means for fastening the cover'l on the box including a bail movably connected to one of said parts to be arranged to hold the cover on the box and a latch to lock the bail, said latch comprising a spring arm connected at one end to the cover to ex tend beneath the aperture of the cover and having its free endprovided with bail engaging means, a plate connected at one edge to the under side of the cover to rest against the spring arm and to be supported thereby normally against the under side of the cover to close the aperture of the cover.

In testimony whereof I ai'lix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses. v

GILMAN P. SMITH. Witnesses:

GRANVILLE D. GOODWIN, v DAVID KEEZER. 

